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A major in world languages prepares the conscientious student for graduate school, teaching, international business, the travel industry, social work, foreign missions, and work in volunteer agencies such as the Peace Corps and Doctors without Borders. Language majors are encouraged to take advantage of the many study abroad opportunities offered by Georgetown College. A language major or minor is also a valuable complement to other majors such as Political Science, Business, Computer Science, Music, Art, English, History, and Theatre. Majors and minors are offered in French, German, and Spanish. MCLC also offers a German Studies major. Majors, minors, and general education students reach different levels of proficiency; however, in accordance with guidelines from the Common European Framework (CEF), and more specifically with the national guidelines (5Cs) from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), all world language students at Georgetown College will: Communicate in languages other than English; Gain knowledge and understanding of other cultures, including their art, film, literature, history, music, etc.; Connect with other disciplines; Make comparisons to other languages and develop insights into the nature of language and culture; Participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world. Students with two years or more of high school French (level II or higher) desiring to continue in French must take the French placement test in order to determine placement in FRE 101, 102, 201 or above.

Students who have successfully completed 200 level courses will not be allowed to take 100 level courses; nor will students who have successfully completed 300 or 400 level courses be allowed to take 100 level courses or 201. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the department chair. (This policy applies to students who have taken language courses at Georgetown or another college or university.)

Major

(B.A. degree) Thirty-six hours required. Thirty-three hours above FRE 102, and one three-hour allied course as approved by French faculty. Program in French must include FRE 230, 235, 333, 335, 435 , and a minimum of 15 hours at the 300 or 400 level, three hours of which must be at a 400-level literature or topics course. Majors are expected to reach the Advanced-Mid Level in accordance with ACTFL guidelines, B2.1.2 CEF.

French Major Leading to Teacher Certification

Thirty-nine hours required. Thirty-six hours above FRE 102, and one three-hour allied course as approved by French faculty. Students must include FRE 230, 235, 310, 312, 333, 335, 402, and 435, plus a minimum of nine hours at the 300 or 400 level, three hours of which must be at a 400-level literature or topics course. Students seeking certification in teaching are expected to reach an Advanced-High level in accordance with ACTFL guidelines, B2.2 in accordance with CEF.

Minor

101-102. Elementary French I and II. (3 hours each) A two-semester sequence. Emphasis on listening and speaking, with gradually increasing attention to the development of reading and writing skills in FRE 102. One hour lab per week required. Fall and Spring 201. Intermediate French. (3 hours) A course designed to bring students up to the required proficiency level at Georgetown College. ACTFL level Intermediate – Low. One hour lab per week required. Prerequisite: FRE 102 or by placement exam. Fall and Spring 230. Intermediate French II Through Film. (3 hours) Continued development of listening and speaking skills. Increased emphasis on reading and writing skills and with concomitant study of more complex grammatical structures. Discussions of Francophone cultures and social issues presented in films. ACTFL level Intermediate-Mid. Prerequisite: FRE 201 or equivalent. Spring 235. Conversation and Composition: Intermediate. (3 hours) Practice in speaking and writing, mostly on everyday topics, using appropriate models and French identities. ACTFL level Intermediate-Mid. Prerequisite: FRE 201 or equivalent. Fall 301. Readings in Francophone Cultures. (3 hours) This course will focus on the development of reading strategies. Through an exploration of a variety of modern and historical texts students will review complex grammar, build vocabulary, study complex sentence structure, and examine cultural questions pertaining to various parts of the francophone world. Prerequisite: FRE 230 or equivalent. Fall 310. Pre-Napoleonic French Civilization and Culture. (3 hours) A study of the development of the ideas, political structures, art and architecture that constitute, in part, French culture. Historical and cultural texts as well as audio-visual material will be used to meet the goals of refining reading strategies and of better understanding modern French identity through its past. Prerequisite: FRE 230 or 301. Odd Springs 312. La Francophonie. (3 hours) The course will focus on the problems of establishing and defining national identities in a variety of Francophone countries from the 19th to the 21st centuries. In this journey to the Francophone world, students will explore various cultural issues, historical events, and literary texts to better understand the contemporary concerns of the French-speaking world. Key concepts in post-colonial studies will also be introduced. Prerequisite: FRE 230 or 301. Even Springs 321. Initiation to French Literature. (3 hours) An examination of a selection of outstanding literary works. Writing skills will also be developed through practice of the explication method of analyzing texts. Prerequisite: FRE 230 or 301. Fall 329. Francophone Women Writers. (3 hours) An introduction to selected works by Francophone women writers. The corpus will include a variety of genres such as short stories, poems, letters, novels, and essays from the middle age to the 21st century. The course seeks to define women’s roles in a variety of cultures and to assess the significance of the act of writing for women writers. Prerequisite: FRE 230 or 301. Even Fall 333. Phonetics, Pronunciation, and Regional Variation. (3 hours) Phonetic alphabet and transcription; articulation of French sounds; French prosody; de-tailed study of vowels, semi-vowels, and consonants; intensive pronunciation practice; introduction to regional and Francophone dialects. Prerequisite: FRE 235 or consent of instructor. Even Springs 335. Conversation, Composition, Cuisine. (3 hours) A course designed to bring students up to Intermediate-High level of the ratings of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Cooking demonstrations in French; cuisine-related folktales; grammar. Prerequisites: FRE 230 and 235, or permission of instructor. Odd Springs 355. French for The Professions. (3 hours) Introduction to basic vocabulary, institutional structures, and cultural differences specific to the business world in France and Quebec. Prerequisite: FRE 230 or 301 Spring as needed 340. Independent Study. (1, 2, 3 hours) As needed 370. Topics in French Culture/Language/Literature. (3 hours) Study of a special topic announced at advanced registration. Prerequisite: FRE 230 or 301. As needed 402. Teaching of World Languages. (3 hours) Methods and materials for the teaching of foreign languages. Taught in English. FRE 402 only counts for the French Major Leading to Teacher Certification. It will not count towards the major or minor. Prerequisites: Junior standing and FRE 335. Fall as needed 427. Advanced Topics in Francophone Cinema. (3 hours) A study of French and Francophone cinema that will examine its development in historical and cultural context while considering a special thematic aspect. Techniques of film analysis will be introduced. Examples of topics are: From Text to Film, Histoire et Spectacle, Images of Africa in Francophone Films, Women’s Narratives in French and Francophone Cinema. Prerequisite: One 300 French level course, or consent of instructor. As needed. 435. Conversation, Composition, and Current Events: Advanced. (3 hours) A course designed to raise the student’s command of oral and written French to Advanced level on the ACTFL guidelines. Reading francophone newspapers will be required. Prerequisite: FRE 335. As needed 440. Independent Study. (1 to 3 hours) As needed 450. Seminar. (1 to 3 hours) As needed 470. Topics. (1 to 3 hours) As needed

Learn federal, state and local job application procedures. Plan to attend a specialized school that teaches foreign languages. Join armed forces as a way to get experience. The government is one of the largest employers of people with foreign language skills.

ARTS, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT

Advertising

Translation/Interpretation

Journalism/Broadcasting

Publishing/Editing

Public Relations

Museums

Foreign news agencies

Book publishers

TV networks

Radio stations

Film companies

Learn about the customs and culture of the country in which your language of study is primarily spoken. Spend time studying or working abroad. Read international newspapers to keep up with developments overseas.

INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE

Translation/Interpretation

Banking/Finance

Sales

Customer Services

Manufacturing

Engineering/Technical Research

Operations Management

Consulting

Imports/Exports

Administrative Services

Banks/Financial institutions

Import/Export companies

Foreign firms operating in the U.S.

American firms operating in foreign countries

Manufacturers

Retail stores

Supplement coursework with business classes. Gain experience through an internship or work abroad program. Find out which companies do business with the countries in which your language of study is spoken. Be prepared to start in a position in the US working for a firm with an overseas presence. Very few entry-level positions are available in international business.

TRAVEL AND TOURISM

Translation/Interpretation

Airline Services

Management

Booking and Reservations

Travel Services/Guidance

Tour and excursion companies

Travel agencies

Hotels/Motels

Resorts

Restaurants

Airlines/Airports

Cruise lines

Railroads

Bus lines

Convention Centers

Take courses in hotel/restaurant administration. Get a part-time job in a hotel or restaurant to gain experience. Spend some time abroad to learn the traditions of fine dining, wines, etc. Brush up on your knowledge of geography. Plan to attend a travel school. Develop office skills such as typing, organizing, and working with computers. Read international newspapers to keep up with overseas developments.

Develop a “near perfect” knowledge of a second language. Seek out any opportunity to converse with native speakers to better learn the language. Gain experience through internships or volunteering. Learn a third language for great job opportunities. Develop aptitude with computers and the Internet. Most people who work in this field freelance. Freelancers who have expertise in a particular area such as law or medicine may find more opportunities. Seek certification or accreditation from an interpretation/translation organization.

SERVICE AND EDUCATION

Translation/Interpretation Teaching

Educational Administration

Linguistics

Civil Service

Social Work

Mission Work

Library Science

Health Services

Hospitals

Religious and volunteer organizations

International organizations

Law enforcement agencies

Social service agencies

Universities/Colleges

Pre-schools

K-12 schools

Professional language schools

English language institutes

Overseas dependents’ schools

Obtain state teacher licensure for K-12 teaching. Develop superior written and oral communication skills in the English language including proper sentence structure and comprehensive vocabulary. Notify local hospitals, schools, and chambers of commerce of your availability to translate or interpret for international visitors. Minor or double major in another subject that you could also teach. Consider teaching English in another country. Service and Education. Obtain a graduate degree for college or university teaching opportunities. Get experience by becoming a teaching assistant or tutor. Be familiar with the cultural base of your language (literature, art, politics, etc.) as well as with cultural traditions. Specialize in an area of research. Plan to take both written and oral examinations to become an interpreter. Get a part-time job teaching English as a second language. Volunteer with government programs such as Peace Corps or VISTA.

General Information About Foreign Language Studies, Including French

Choose an additional academic area of study to supplement the foreign language, preferably one that requires a high degree of technical skill. Most people with foreign language ability use those skills to assist them in a different career field such as business, education, etc.

Related courses to study include geography, history, civilization, foreign relations, international law, and world economics. Decide and choose which language is necessary for your career. Decide the level of foreign language ability you will need to acquire for success in your career. Possible languages to study: Spanish, German, French, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Hebrew, Arabic and Portuguese.

Plan to attend a private language institute to learn additional languages and cultures.

Travel to a foreign country or study abroad in international exchange programs to learn different cultures.